Dangerous Drugs to be Stamped Oat

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 239, 29 December 1927, Page 8

Dangerous Drugs to be Stamped Oat

NEW ACT TO OPERATE

HEAVY PENALTIES PRESCRIBED

New Zealand's greatest yet to prevent the overseas gangs trafficking i n a a ot gerous drugs was made with passage by Parliament this year 4 the Dangerous Drugs Traffic; Act which will operate from Sund,: next, January 1, 1928. °* y Heavy fines and imprisonment the penalties to be inflicted tmoA t ° convicted offender. The Act emhL’ much of what the Dominion h? learned from the experience 0“..i countries in the fight with the trade in drugs. Prior to the passing of this Act tv authorities feared that the DomirL remote geographically though \z ■ might be used more or less as ah* 15 ' for the operations of teams of fickers in opium and other dru« /-*- the object of bringing in the tion was to defeat any intention vt-v -' might have been entertained in direction. The idea underlying th legislation is to make the heavier than the profits which woK accrue from the limited scope for drug trader in this countrv, and thl strings of the law close tightly him. It will now be unlawful evenpossess cocaine, opium, diacetyl-mr.-'’ phine, and their salts, ecognine anH Indian hemp, and any eluding the so-called anti-opium retnel dies, which contain more than on*" fifth part per cent, of morhpine one-tenth part per cent, of cocaine or ecognine, or any quantity of diacetv 1 morphine. In order that dangerous drugs of any nature or by any oth-» name may not gain a hold of vicUc--the Governor-General is add to the list of prohibited drugs. J The ban on the importation of opium remains, but saving provision' are included in the legislation for th* Comptroller of Customs to issue permits for dealing in certain other drue* for medicinal purposes. A breach of the Dangerous Drugs Act hits the offender hard. A fine o t £ 500, or 12 months* imprisonment, or both, is prescribed, and the onus of proof of innocent intent is thrown upon the person found with the prohibited drugs in his possession. The inclusion of the imprisonmer.: term as a penalty is held by the Gcvl ernment to be a deterrent against the operations of an agent of a wealthv principal, who meets from his fund the costs of his agents* fines. To deprive the agent of his liberty is considered to be the most effective manner of stamping out the trade. The operations of international gangs are aimed at by a clause in the new Act which provides for a fine of £SOO or 12 months’ imprisonment for a breach of a corresponding law in another country, or aiding the commission of such a breach. The police may search the premises of Chinese without warrant, but for a search of European premises a warrant must be produced. A penalty of £2OO or three months’ imprisonment, or both, is stipulated for allowing premises to be used for opium smoking, or for being concerned in the management of premises so used. Possession of opium-smoking utensils renders the holder liable to a fine of £100; for the offence of smoking opium the penalty will be § fine of £ 50.